All Byron Bay beaches have been closed for at least 24 hours after a shark attacked a surfer early on Monday morning.

The man was in the water at nearby Broken Head about 7.30am when he was attacked, but managed to escape and make his way to hospital with help from a friend.

It came one day after hundreds of people gathered on the New South Wales north coast to protest shark nets being used in the area, the ABC reported.

An image of the victim was posted to social media by user Geoffrey John Knapp with the caption: 'One very lucky surfer today at Broken Head NSW Australia'.

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This images was posted to social media by user Geoffrey John Knapp with the caption: 'One very lucky surfer today at Broken Head NSW Australia'

An image of the victim with a makeshift bandage after the attack on Monday

The man's surfboard, which took the brunt of the impact during the attack

Kings Beach at Broken Head National Reserve, Byron Bay

The victim's left thigh showed a bite mark and at least three puncture wounds and his surf board also showed signs of damage, with a chunk missing from the side and holes on the underside.

His injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

Witness Belinda Holland said she was surfing on Monday morning and the victim's surfboard went 'flying into the air' and was left with a 'chunk out of his leg. There was a lot of blood... It was pretty freaky,' she told 9 News.